The Gray Tower (Being Rewritten as The Erstwhile Druid)

Chapter 26: Breath of Life

Luke pushed, wading against the crowd of humanity — NPCs mingled with players — as they swarmed to the walls. Apparently Horus and Borus had managed to rouse the courage of Vana's defenders.

Silver darted through numerous legs in the distance, a blur of fur ping ponging forth.

The crowd thinned the farther into the city's heart they moved. Twenty minutes of running had gotten Luke to the town square. The Chamber of Commerce and non-functioning nexus were dark, no signs of life within. It'd take five, no ten more minutes at a good pace to reach the Good Feast.

Silver skidded to a stop, turning back to glance at Luke.

Can you move any faster, Silver said. A turtle could outrun you.

"You have four legs, I have two. Divide your speed by two and that's how fast I run." Luke caught up, short on breath. "Let me drink a swiftness potion."

Summon, uncork, chug. Pixels converged into reality, the potion fitting snugly in his hand. He flicked his thumb, popping the cork.

Luke downed the potion in one swig. He felt a jolt of energy zap through his body, the world suddenly becoming more clear, more beautiful, more distinct.

He blinked a few times. "Whoa, I can never get used to this."

Master, why didn't you drink it before?

"Slipped my mind."

Silver bit Luke's thigh, drawing a yelp. Drink another potion.

"You're gonna give me rabies." Luke frowned, rubbing his thigh.

You might run faster with it. Should I bite you harder?

"I think I'll pass."

Hm. Silver snorted. You tasted rotten anyway.

"So why do I need to drink another potion?" Luke scratched his neck. He scanned the empty square, on the lookout for any possible threat.

Not a swiftness potion. A fire-resistance one. Silver howled at the sky, voice carrying through the empty square.

"Explain."

Open your eyes, this is exactly why Noelle is always exasperated by you, Silver said, shaking her head. Can't you hear the flapping of wings, the specks on the horizon?

"Okay, I can be zen too. Shave my hair, make me a pervert, then I can talk like Tetsu." Luke squinted.

Five specks were in the distance, growing in size. In the darkness they were a shaded crimson — blotches of blood against a black canvas.

"Five dragons. Five." Luke moaned. "They really mean business this time."

Master, we need to hurry. At this rate, the dragons will be in town within the hour. Silver took off, not even sparing a glance at Luke.

Luke kept up, the swiftness potion enhancing the length of his strides. The town blurred past. There won't be much of a town left soon, not after the dragons are done. Defeating one dragon was easy enough. But five at the same time? Not even Tetsu could manage that. Speaking of which: Tetsu hadn't shown himself yet. He's likely with Noelle.

The night would get better. It had to. Wordlessly, the pair continued on their way, Luke running alongside his companion.

***

David moaned, purple and blue blotches marring his face. One cheek was bloated, puffing like an unpopped zit. Blood oozed from various wounds.

"Care to answer a few of our questions? I think we've asked pretty nicely." Noelle scraped her knife against a whetstone. Nice and sharp. She placed the edge against her finger. A tiny drop of blood welled, springing from the digit. "Or do we need to go through the line again?"